HMCS VICTORIA is one of four VICTORIA class submarines obtain from Britain in the 1990’s. While designed in the 1980’s and built in the 1990’s, the VICTORIA class submarine have gone through an extensive upgrade and refit to bring them into the 21st century.

They are not “new”, but, after their upgrade, they would be equal or better than most diesel-electric submarines built up to 2005.

HMCS VICTORIA, May 2013 (Photo by John Webber)

HMCS VICTORIA by John Webber A submarine is one of the most complex pieces of equipment on the planet. It must supply everything it needs while below the ocean and navigate under the sea by using an inertial guidance mapping system that is an underwater version of a GPS system. A submarine is a thousand times more complex than an automobile and more complex than a space station. There are over a million parts on a submarine. Each part must pass stringent specifications and tests to meet the rigors of underwater warfare. Canada‟s Victoria class submarines weigh 2,400 tons and have over 100 gauges, 1,000 valves, 100 kilometres of cables, 2 kilometres of pipes and 100 digital sensors. Each sub has a crew of 49 working 6-hour shifts. With all its equipment, it’s extremely tough to finda space just to hang a picture.I know a lot of home garages like that.

While an automobile driver can stop any time to eat or fuel, a submarine must carry all its food, fuel and air, operate 24 hours a day and must withstandup to 300 tons per square meter sea pressure. A sub also has its own fire department, electric generators, repair shop, office, food service, crew quartersand, of course, weapon systems. When purchasing a new computer or a used high tech submarine, there is always compromise. Each size and type of submarine has advantages and disadvantages just like an automobile or a computer. There are no used submarine dealerships and because they require maintenance one-third of the time, they are purchased in groups of three orfour to ensure two are available.

During each maintenance period, the sub crew takes time off with their family or obtains further technical training. The submarine must have all its systems and equipment certified regularly to meet stringent standards and ensure the proper safety of its crew. While an auto is maintained from theoutside, most submarines parts are removed from the inside and are maintained by over 1,000 workers. Canada‟s submarines are an advanced diesel-electric prototype designed by the RN. This new design made it challenging for our navy to change the maintenance procedures from the previous Canadian Oberon class to our new Victoria class submarines.

Submarines by nature are hidden and sneaky. There are over 40 nations with submarines. A sub during peacetime is primarily used for training the crews of warships and aircraft to locate foreign submarines. They are also used for intelligence gathering, and to locate smuggling or illegal fishing operations. Submarines are necessary to help maintain our nation‟s security and are an asset to our NATO commitment.

Tactically, one submarine can tie up a whole fleet of surface ships searching for it. The lessons of WWII taught us that we must have our navy trained and equipped for any conflict. Homeowners put up a fence around their home to stop an intruder, we must also put up a defence around our country to stop an intruder. Omitting submarines from a navy would be like building only the top half of a fence around your home. Canada‟s new Victoria class submarines are extremely capable and stealthy. They will provide the needed underwater support for the RCN during the next 20 to 30 years.